State of Origin: Queensland crowd boycotts dead rubber

Queenslanders have abandoned their record-breaking Maroons side. Suncorp Stadium is on the verge of not selling out for the first time since 2003.

About 6000 tickets remained unsold for the dead rubber clash, which could draw less than 50,000 people which hasn’t happened in Queensland since matches were again played at the redeveloped Suncorp Stadium 12 years ago.

Staying away: There are still 6000 tickets left for Origin III. Photo: Getty Images

Almost 48,000 people attended the last time ANZ Stadium in Brisbane hosted a game in 2002.

The apparent snub by Queensland fans has surprised Blues coach Laurie Daley and NSW chief executive Dave Trodden. The promotion of the game hasn’t been helped by Maroons coach Mal Meninga's refusal to do his usual pre-Origin press conference. Queensland opted against conducting a media session on Monday.

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“The last eight years they have had a champion team. It’s a good way [for the fans] to support them and let them know that regardless that they've lost this year's series that they are still behind Queensland and support them. That’s what their team would expect that their support base would be there.”

NSW sold out two games in Sydney last year, while 52,111 crammed into Suncorp Stadium for game one earlier this year. More than 83,000 watched the Blues clinch the series in Sydney last month.

Trodden said he was “surprised” by the number of tickets left unsold.

“I really value the great support that we always get from the NSW supporters,” Trodden said. “Last year NSW supporters managed to fill out ANZ Stadium twice even though they hadn’t at that stage seen the Blues win a series for seven years.

“Seeing that happen really makes you appreciate the support they give us.”

Sydney hosted the last dead-rubber in 2010 – when Queensland swept the series – but the match still drew almost 62,000 people.

Trodden said NSW would have had no qualms in selling out the dead rubber this year.

“I’m confident that if they came out and supported us when we hadn't won a series in seven years, they would be out in force to celebrate the first team to win it in eight years,” Trodden said.

The Blues players face the bleak prospect of lifting the shield in front of an empty – or at the very least a very hostile – crowd at Suncorp Stadium.

The NRL resisted the temptation to hand the shield over to NSW in Sydney after game two, instead sticking with the tradition of presenting the shield at the completion of the third match.

Trodden said he didn't mind where Blues skipper Paul Gallen lifted the shield.

“I don’t really know and I’m not really bothered by it,” Trodden said when asked what sort of reception his players would receive when they lift the shield.

“For me it’ll be about what it means to us. It’ll mean plenty to us irrespective of how many people are there and irrespective of if they are applauding us or not.”